Unions are hated by business owners and unavailable to most workers, moreover they have been diminished by scandal and senselessly require payment for membership. The aims of this petition are to set in motion the official facilitation of worker empowerment without the institution of unions as we know them today. In our service-based economy, the majority of US workers are paid little, easily replaced and have the lowest net worth in generations. There is no reason that the first amendment right to assemble should be circumvented by societal pay-to-play unions or outright banned by any employer in the land. Furthermore we would propose that any benefits will be provided through employers as they are to any employee; no additional management of pensions, insurances or assurances than already exists. This, in the vision of the Altruist Party, will ensure that workers can truly collectively negotiate with employers free of bureaucratic hierarchies and allow membership to all requiring only their voice to participate.

Maximus coffee workers have been on strike in Houston since October 10th because company bosses have proposed to cut workers salaries by up to 50%, increase the employee cost of company health care plans and stop company contributions to retirement plans. We must put pressure on Maximus management to bargain fairly with UFCW so that workers can return to work as quickly as possible with a living wage and decent benefits. This would be a good outcome for the workers, the community as well as the company. It would be beneficial for the workers because when workers wages are cut, communities suffer because workers cannot continue to contribute to the community as they had before. it would be beneficial to the company because trained and experienced workers would continue to produce quality products instead of the inferior products produced by scabs or disgruntled, underpaid, overstressed workers. Boycott Maximus coffee and the companies that distribute their products which includes: Beaumont Coffee, Boston Best Products, Cafe D’Irio coffee, Cloverleaf Coffee, Folgers Coffee Products, Maxwell House Coffee Collections, Maxwell House Coffee Singles, Maxwell House De-Cafe coffee, Maxwell House Filter Packs, Maxwell House Instant Coffee, Maxwell House International Café, Nestle Coffee Products, Sanka Instant Coffee

The citizens, residents and business owners of Livingston, Montana stand to benefit from the communitie's economic developement via increased tourism that can be achieved by a PRIVATELY FUNDED rail passenger service that has regularly scheduled stops in Livingston at the existing, historic train depot. We encourage the Livingston City Commissioners to undertake legislative matters that will not pose a threat to the two objectives identified above.

As a resident of Seattle, I do business with and speak to folks making minimum wage in this city every day. These are the workers who prepare food, serve in retail sales, clean offices and homes, take care of the elderly and disabled and perform many additional jobs that make our city work. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics national numbers, 25% of these folks are parents, three-quarters are over 20 years old, and over half are the primary wage earners in their households. As a matter of basic fairness, these responsible workers should be paid at a minimal level that allows them to live in the City of Seattle. Currently there is no such guarantee. Even though Washington State's minimum wage is higher than the federal minimum, the State minimum is still below the very basic minimal costs of living Seattle for even a single person. For those with a child to take care of, the situation is worse: a singe parent with one child would need to work over 80 sate-minimum-wage hours every week to support the basic needs of her family. (see more on these statistics here: http://livingwage.mit.edu/places/5303363000) Let's establish a City-wide minimum wage that begins to correct this injustice. If you work here, you should be able to live here!

Across the country, 6 cities have already passed paid sick leave. But in Pennsylvania, Republican State House Rep. Seth Grove has introduced legislation from the Koch brothers-backed group ALEC to block paid sick days in Pennsylvania. Tell the state legislators not to support right-wing Koch brothers legislation and instead support workers. http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/10/24/2828431/pennsylvania-paid-sick-days-preemption/

Break the Wall Street control of our government. We need a Robin Hood Tax on Wall Street … and a movement that forces the legislators to care about our communities… Economic Justice for every American. $350 Billion annually that can be spent on Human needs - not Billionaire or Corporation needs. It is the game changer for a better funded, fairer, more democratic, humane, balanced, and moral American Tax System. It begins in our town, with you …

This campaign started with strikes at two companies: Potomac Disposal and Unity Recycling and Disposal. Potomac Disposal has now signed a fair agreement with its employees. Thanks so much for speaking up for these workers! And thanks to Potomac Disposal for doing the right thing! Unfortunately, the Unity Disposal and Recycling still won’t recognize the workers’ union or discuss their demands for fair wages or affordable health insurance. Currently, Unity only offers health insurance to some employees, and it’s not affordable. Furthermore, several workers have come forward with paystub evidence of missing wages or overtime pay and uncompensated work hours, in addition to potential Montgomery County living wage law violations that we are currently investigating. Several workers say they have been met with harassment or intimidation when they’ve tried to resolve these problems on their own. The workers want a union contract to give them the resources and procedures to resolve wage problems like these without facing retaliation, as well as to negotiate for affordable health insurance and fair wages. The workers are headed back to work tomorrow to show their commitment to the community, but they will be continuing the conversation in their workplace. You can help by contacting Unity Disposal at: 301-490-8604 or 301-990-2049 and telling them that their employees deserve a fair contract. Then, SIGN THE PETITION to let us know you called. We can't trust Unity to count your calls accurately. Signing on will make sure we can tell Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett exactly how many residents support us. Thanks so much for your support!

Archer Daniels Midland, a highly profitable company, is demanding over $20 million in tax breaks to keep its headquarters in Illinois. With net profits of $1.7 billion dollars in 2012, on which they paid state taxes of less than 1% instead of the statutory requirement of 9 1/2%, ADM does not need more tax breaks. Their spokesperson admitted as much when it was said that the only reason they are requesting a tax break is because Illinois set a "precedent" by giving other profitable companies undeserved tax breaks. With Illinois financial situation in a state of crisis, it is time to break with that precedent and say "no" to tax breaks for profitable companies.

The goal is to stimulate private enterprise success, job growth and entrepreneur education. Many small businesses fail as a result of lacking federal support. This will assure every community has the ability to thrive. This will also encourage transparency in reporting and give alternative savings leading to stronger long term establishments. USSBDC

Government shutdowns cost us a lot of money (approximately $24B for the most recent shutdown Oct 1-16, 2013), disrupts average citizens' livelihoods and lowers our economic output. By keeping the current budget until another one is agreed upon, the government should not have to shutdown while Congress works towards consensus on the next budget.

Because it is time that we get 100% participation when it comes to paying for government services.

As off budget spending, tax exemptions lack the accountability that other state spending undergoes when the state approves its biennial budget. Tax exemptions are expenditures of state money that would otherwise be available to fund state services. Tax exemptions reduce available funds for education, health care and other important state services. Many tax exemptions are actually tax loopholes that benefit special interests but don't meet state priorities for funding. Tuition doubled for my son and daughter between when they started college and graduated. Washington State needs to provide sufficient revenue to keep college affordable for all students so we have an educated workforce for the future. Washington State currently has over 650 tax exemptions. According to the State Department of Revenue in the last biennium, while Washington State collected some $21 billion in B&O, sales and use taxes, it excluded from collection over $20 billion in tax exemptions. The system is broken when if everyone paid the same in taxes, the state would have twice as much revenue.. Requiring that the Washington State Legislature adopt a Tax Expenditure Budget every two years as part of the biennial budget process would make tax exemptions more transparent and accountable to Washington taxpayers. The Legislature needs to prioritize tax exemptions and close tax loopholes not meeting state needs. Creating a Tax Expenditure Budget detailing the tax expenditures (exemptions) and the amount of revenue the Legislature is not collecting, will help Legislators to prioritize closing tax loopholes not meeting state priorities and needs. Petition by Steve Zemke, Director Tax Sanity www.taxsanity.org